ONLY a judicial inquiry would properly identify the problems at the heart of the violence that erupted on the streets of Redfern in inner Sydney on February 15, said a priest who has worked in the area’s Aboriginal community for years.
Missionary of the Sacred Heart Father Frank Fletcher, a chaplain of the Aboriginal Catholic community in Sydney for many years, was commenting following the riot in which at least 40 police were injured.
The riot followed the accidental death of Aboriginal 17 year-old Thomas Hickey the previous day. Members of the Aboriginal community claimed police were chasing the youth when he fell from his bicycle and was impaled on a metal fence. Police have denied the claims.
The NSW Government has ordered the state ombudsman, the coroner and NSW police to investigate whether police played a role in the teenager’s death.
Fr Fletcher said those investigations would not be adequate to delve into the root causes of problems among the people of ‘The Block’, an Aboriginal neighbourhood in Redfern.
Fr Fletcher’s stance was similar to that of Australian Democrat Senator Aden Ridgeway who said there should be a broad government inquiry into the social and material needs of the community
Fr Fletcher believed a thorough investigation provided the only chance of halting the cycle of suspicion and violence between the community and police.
Blessed Sacrament Sister Maureen Flood, who has had a long association with the Aboriginal community in Redfern, said the anger among the people was endemic ‘… because everything’s been taken away from them’.
Sr Flood said drug abuse had exacerbated the situation.
